You're Never Too Young (1955)

Copyright 1955 by Paramount Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Criterion: 25 August 1955. U.S. release: August 1955. U.K. release: 14 November 1955. Australian release: 30 December 1955. Sydney opening at the Capitol (ran one week). Nationally re-issued by Paramount in the U.S.A. on a double bill with "The Caddy" in 1963. 9,250 feet. 102 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Escaping a pursuing gangster, an adult poses as a 12-year- old in order to travel half fare on the train.NOTES: The original movie starred Ray Milland and Ginger Rogers in the roles now played by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, respectively.As a team, Martin and Lewis never achieved anything like the success overseas that they enjoyed in the United States. Their most successful features in foreign shores were in order: Sailor Beware (1952), Hollywood or Bust (1956 — their last movie together), My Friend Irma (1950), Living It Up, Three Ring Circus (both 1954), Pardners (1956), Money From Home, Scared Stiff (both 1953). Even these were only moderately popular at the box-office. My own favorite is Artists and Models (1955), which like The Stooge (1953) and You're Never Too Young failed miserably outside America. That's My Boy (1951) and The Caddy (1953) barely recovered overhead and advertising costs, while My Friend Irma Goes West, At War with the Army (both 1950) and Jumping Jacks (1952) returned a modest profit.COMMENT: Thanks to the presence of Raymond Burr, this one is a fair deal funnier than the average Martin and Lewis vehicle. Fans will enjoy the slapstick chase ski finale despite the use of obvious doubles in which Lewis (real name Joseph Levitch) has one good joke when he discovers his picnic sandwich is ham. The color photography is always nice, there are lots of girls milling around (who join Dean and Jerry in one high-stepping production number). Dean also has the usual number of obligatory songs which he renders in his usual pleasant style.Unfortunately it is just impossible to accept Lewis as a child which undermines a lot of the comedy, especially when Diana Lynn tries so valiantly to play it straight. Nina Foch (pronounced "Forsh') has another of her characteristically acidic, other-woman roles and Veda Ann Borg makes her usual effective moll. Hans Conried has some moments as a French barber. Lewis mugs away with his usual abandon but thanks to the script and Mr. Burr is occasionally amusing. Taurog's direction rates as a great deal livelier than usual.

I'll never get tired of watching this movie!Jerry Lewis is everything in this movie, from a goofy barber assistant to a spoiled little brat to a suave and sophisticated young man. All the funny bits will never be old to me, they still put me in stitches even after I've watched the film umpteen times.My favorite part is the choir scene...If you haven't seen it, don't be a ninny and get the movie for yourself! You won't regret it!I'm glad I still have my good old copy of this wonderful classic.

I was watching this movie and suddenly thought it seemed very familiar!! I then realized it was a re-making of the 1942 movie "The Major and the Minor" starring Ginger Rogers! There is a sub-plot that is different,but many of the scenes are identical except for the fact that now it is Jerry Lewis playing a 12 year old boy instead of Ginger as a 12 year old girl.Another pairing of Lewis and Martin-lightweight but enjoyable.

I liked this movie. Jerry Lewis was a great kid in it. Jerry Lewis is one of the best comedians of the century.